Women ENTERPRENEURS
Olubimi Alero Abohweyere holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Ibadan, where she graduated in 2000. In 2003, she joined the Pastoral Unit of The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, where she was involved in the planning and packaging of the bi-annual nationwide Catholic Christian pilgrimages, to holy sites across Europe. In 2006, she left to chart a different course in the telecommunications industry as she joined MTN, as an online Customer Relationship Agent. By 2016, when she left, she was a Strategic Account Partner, managing a portfolio of MTN’s Strategic Accounts covering the Corporate Western region (Lagos, Ibadan, and Ogun states). Olubimi is now the CEO of Prosit Fruits and Wellness, an indigenous Nigerian Wellness Brand, located in Lagos, with a focus on promoting natural wellness, via healthy eating and wellness education. In this interview with Oyinlola Sale, she explains how Prosit Fruits has built a sustainable brand in Nigeria’s thriving food industry
You are a kidney warrior, tell us about the story behind your breakthrough, that led to the creation of Prosit Fruits?
In 2016, I got diagnosed with kidney impairment and was placed on medication but they were too strong and I wasn’t tolerating them well at all. At a point, I stopped taking the medication and started doing my research on how to manage kidney disease using natural means.
I adopted a healthy lifestyle, eliminated certain items from my diet while incorporating a more plant-based, high quality but low quantity protein diet amongst other things. After just a few months, I noticed all the physical symptoms had become better – no swellings. Then I did a follow-up test, which showed improvements in the markers for kidney impairment.
This breakthrough, my love for natural wellness – which was always there and my love for art, propelled me into birthing the natural wellness and fruit styling brand we know today as Prosit Fruits.
The food business in Nigeria has become innovative, it is more about the creativity infused with good taste. How unique is Prosit fruits?
Prosit Fruits is a truly unique brand because we infuse wellness and hygiene, which are core qualities of our brand with aesthetics, which is visually appealing and they come great taste. At Prosit Fruits, we believe that healthy eating can be fun, happy, and tasty. This, our customers over the years can attest to.
While promoting all the healthy eating aspects of my business, I would primarily want to highlight the Fruit Styling part at events… Fruit salads, healthy desserts like a parfait, fruit kebabs, melon pizza, fresh juice cocktails, etc.
We cater at all social and corporate -birthdays, weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, funeral receptions, business meetings, award events, conventions, big and small events.
In this economy where prices of goods are drastically increasing by the day, how do you manage to draw the line to know how to put a price on your catering services?
We strive to keep our prices affordable without compromising on the quality of our products, which we have come to be known for.
Our promise to deliver quality and enjoyable products which promote the natural wellness of our customers is very important to us as it is to them.
We would love right here and now to appreciate our customers for staying with us because they truly value quality and their wellness highly.
Prosit Fruits is known for healthy Organic Fruit juice and salad, would you say it’s capital intensive to produce special diet meals and beverages?
Sourcing high-end equipment to produce high-quality products is somewhat expensive but they are worthy investments if your focus is 100 per cent wellness and taste. Having said that, there is a wide spectrum of equipment ranging in price, which anyone looking to start this business with lower cash access can start with and scale up as they go.
It’s also important to get the relevant certifications as well as register with the appropriate government bodies.
The food industry sees a daily increase in the number of players. In what ways do Prosit Fruits stand out?
At Prosit Fruits, we are big on health, wellness, quality, and aesthetics. Our focus on providing healthy tasty treats, which are hygienically prepared and beautifully presented for memorable experiences every time stands us apart. We also partner with our customers to provide tailor-fit presentations as they desire.
Was there ever a time you stumbled on a roadblock that made you feel like giving up, How did you overcome that situation?
Oh yes! As a people, we do not value our health as much as we should, forgetting that health is true wealth. Great health is the bedrock for a thriving life. So, initially, it was very difficult getting people to incorporate fruit styling and healthy treats into their event menu/plan. They saw it, liked it but it just wasn’t normal for them… but thank God, with time, more enlightenment, and publicity on our part, it’s getting better and we find more and more people, reaching out from social media to make inquiries and patronage.
The food industry is capital intensive. How did you manage to finance this business in its early days?
I started my business with my finances.
How have Prosit Fruits managed to build a sustainable brand in the food industry?
We have been able to build a sustainable brand by consistently providing quality product delivery.
Understanding the value of starting small while having a bigger brand in focus.
The value of learning, unlearning, and relearning. Paying attention to times and seasons. The understanding that our customers are key to the survival of our business.
Relationship and networking, which we have leveraged on time and time again, in the course of running our business. We have also been supportive of fellow entrepreneurs.
Valuing the input of team members, as no one person has a monopoly of knowledge. Also, the importance of being socially responsible as a brand via our youth and women training, mentorship and empowerment programs.
What impact do you see Prosit Fruits making in the food industry in the next five years?
In the next five years, we hope to have disrupted the food industry so much so that healthy eating becomes a norm everywhere – at corporate and social events, homes, schools, and offices.
We are what we eat..when we eat right, we can regain and retain wellness and as a result, live life to our full potential- academically, financially, politically, socially, career and business-wise.
